Inflatable ball



' l. l. TUBBS INFLATABLE BALL March 8, l1938.

Filed July 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 8,1938. l. 'ruBBs IN'LATABLE BALL Filed July 25, 193s March. 8,y 1938. f 1 TUBES l 2,110,183

INPLATABLE BALL Filed July 25, 19:55 3 sheets-sheet s Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED jsTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,110,183 marsans nam. rra 1. Tubbs, coral Gables, Fla. dermaen July z5, mss, selm No. 33,005

iz clams. (ci. 27s-fes) I Fig. 9 is a central transverse section of a form Myinvenuon mates to that general dass of devices wherein an outer cover of leather or other suitablel wear-resisting material is provided of suitable form, having an air-tight resilient sack Y s or bladder pcsinoned. within it so that the bladder may be Yinflated toexpand the outer cover,

vided for limiting the expansion of the internal' air-tight sack and thus control the tension upon the cover part. This limiting means may be an independent part of the device or it may be formed as a part of the internal bladder, in which case the ball remains of substantially its present construction except that the bladder member has means for restraining its dilation when inflated, thus providing a ball more serviceable, durable, resilient and reliable than balls as heretofore made, and in whichfthe ball will retain its form and size in service and continue .with a true rebound through the life of the ball. This means provided for limiting'and determining the stress uponthe cover prevents distortion of the ball regardless of the pressure within the internal bladder.

To this end my invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangement and combination lof parts, herein shown and described and more particuiarly,po inted out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference characters indicate like or-corresponding parts:

Fig.- 1 is a centraltransve'rse section of my'im-v proved ball;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of a portion of 40. the wall of the device, shown in Fig. 1 but enlarged to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 3 is avfragmentary section-similar to Fig. 2

showing a slightly modified construction.

f Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but showing another slightly modified form of my device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of one form of a.

or mold which I have found..very useful and important in the construction of my device showing a sectional elevation of one of my improved balls in place in the same.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a form employed in the construction of a modified form of my de- Vice;

Fig. 11 shows two of the parts constructed as in Fig. 10 in their proper relation but slightly sep-- arated to more clearly show the construction.

Fig. 12 shows the completed modied'form of the air-tight element and pressure-resisting means shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 is a transverse central sectional view of a die or mold which I have found of great value in producing my improved balls.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section of a coated cord or wire, such as preferably used in the construction of the parts shown in Figs. 11 and 12. v

Fig. 15 is a-fragmentary section across the wires or elements used in the construction of the parts shown in Figs. 11 and 12. i

In the form shown in the drawings, my device 'comprises a cover' part I, preferably consisting of any desired number of sections 2-2 and with seams 3--3 connecting the several sections together at their margins. The cover is preferably formed of leather or other suitable material with the sections shaped in the usual or any desired manner so that they maybe made to readily assume a proper curvature and the finished ball will be true, smooth. regular and accurate in form.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 6 and '1 the seams 3 are produced by splitting the margin of the section and removing a small portion l along the edge as shown in Fig. 6, and thereafter placin'g the longer faces 1-1 of the sections together and stitching them through the portions of reduced thickness at the margin 'as at 6, and thereafter turning them as shown in Fig. '1. When thus -ball during lthe process of manufacture.

It may also bedesirable in some kinds of balls, or where it is desired to especially reinforce the seams or connections between the sections to provide a reinforcing part or band 5i) as shown in Fig. 7 of canvas or other suitable material tov extend across the seam and cement or otherwise secure the same to the cover sectionsA upon the interior of the cover at opposite sides of the seam to relieve the seam of substantially all undesirable stress. V

Any suitable means may be provided to limit the stress upon thecover and especially on the seams 3. As shown in Fig. 1, anelement 8 is provided formed of fine, resilient wire 9, as shown ing substantially the full stress of the air pres- '20 sure within this member, thus limiting the stress exerted by the bladder I upon the cover.

Invthe form shown, a valve II is provided upon the bladder I0 and is connected thereto in any suitable manner so that air may be introduced through'the valve into the bladder but that any air within the bladder normally cannot escape past the valve.

As shown, a portion I2 of the valve protrudes' through a suitable opening I4 in the element 81 and cover I so that inating means may be conveniently attached to the valve at the exterior of the ball to inflate the bladder to the desired pressure. Any suitable or well known form, construction, or types of valve may be employed for this purpose, it being merely desired that the valve be so attached to the bladder that it will not leak and shall be conveniently accessible from the out- Side of the cover.

Under some conditions it has been found desirable to cement or otherwise attach the element 8 and bladder I0 to the cover I so that the parts I2 will be firmly held in position in the opening I4 and displacement prevented between the element and cover I.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the fabric of the element\ I8 is coated and lled with rubber or other suitable material and arranged within the cover as yhereinbefore described. In this construction whereA a wire fabric is employed as aV base this coating tends to hold the wires in position and prevent buckling or other injury to the element from handling, assembling or in making inspection or repairs. This form provides an airtight non-expansible bladder, the valve of which may be the same as hereinbefore described or of any desired form or construction.

In some balls or articles it has been found desirable `to employ the construction shown in Fig.

` 3. In this formthe element 28 corresponding to member or bladder from injury in case any parts of the element 28 should become displaced or -broken in service or handling and will prevent the broken part from engaging or injuring the lbladder.

. In the form shown in Fig. 10 a suitable form 24 is provided and aA fine resilient cord or wire 25 or other suitable-means is spirally wound as at 26 upon the vvformas shown, preferably with suit- I `V so that as it winds upon the form it will tend to hold to the surface of the form and to the adjacent wires, as shown in Fig.v 15, thus spacing the turns of the wire from each other as desired vand providing a matrix 28 to permanently seal the member when completed. In the preferred construction the matrix is thus constructed in hemlspheres 49, asshown in Fig. 11, and these hemispheres when suitably set to retain their form are brought together with their open faces contacting and are thus vulcanized to form a complete unit. Where greater strength is desired, and in fact lunder ordinary circumstances, it is preferred to use a second pair of similarly formed hemispheres, 52, as shown' in Fig. 12, with their uniting edges crossing the meeting line of the first hemispheres Y 49, at substantially right angles; and, if extreme strength is desired, a third pair 3 I, of these members may be mounted upon the exterior of the spheres formed by hemispheres 49 and 52, arranging them so as to bring the wires of the various hemispheres into lsuch relation to each I5 as shown in Fig. 9. This mold may be constructed of any desirable material having suflicient strength and rigidity to avoid injury or distortion when in service. The cover member I constructed in any desired manner or as hereinbefore described and with the part 8 suitably positioned therein are placed within the mold, and the mold is the'n closed and held in closed position by any suitable means not shown. The valve II is -then -connected to suitable iniiating means I6 so that air or other fluid maybe forced into the element 8 and any desired pressure may be applied.

Under some circumstances I have found the mold or die 40, shown in Figure 13, very desirable.

In this form chamber 4I is formed in the walls of the mold with any desired number of openings or channels 42-42, leading to the inner face of thev mold and connections 43-43 extending into the chambers 4I, so that piping or other suitable.

means may be attached to the connections 43-43,

so that when a cover or other parts are placed in the form the air may be exhausted between the form and the part to securely hold the part -in position in the form and prevent its displacement duringfurther manipulation or when placing the airtight member within the cover. The cover member I constructed-in any desired manner or vas hereinbefore described and with the element 'I 8 and member I0 suitably positioned therein are placed within the mold, and the mold is then clcsed and held in closed position by any suitable means not shown.4 The valve II is then connected to suitable inating means I6 so that air 2,110,188 or other fluid may be forced into the member I' The ball is then inflated suiciently to force the-l cover with any desired pressure against the inner surface of the mold or die, thus causing the ball to accurately correspond in size and form to the` y interior of the mold, it being found that suilicient force may be exerted in this manner to permanently set the size and form of the various parts and at ythe same time imprint any desired markings or surface indications upon the cover that may be desired, so that when the mold is opened, and the ball removed after the pressure has been suitably reduced, the ball will remain perfect in form and permanently retain the markings thus imprinted or indented upon the cover.

The several sections of the cover may be united by stitched seams in the usual manner or as hereinbefore described. The connection shown in Fig. 8 has prpven very desirable, however, and in this form stitches may, if desired, be entirely dispensed with. In this form the sections are halved or split along their margin to provide a thinner portion 20, and dovetails 2| of any desired form or size are-provided along the margin and also along the junction of the split or halved portion and that of full thickness. When thus constructed the halved or split portions of adjacent sections may be cemented together with the dovetails 20 and 22 interlocking to form a permanent connection. f

In the form shown in Fig. 9, the seams 24 are merely scarfed to a thin edge and united with cement in the manner employed with leather belts or other similar articles, leaving a smooth iiush surface at each side of the seam with the cover of substantially uniform thickness.

In articles having an inatable member or bladder to 'hold a .cover distended it is obvious that the usual seam having a part projecting into the interior of the ball will cause irregular rebound and also tends to distort the cover and cause injury to the bladder, while with the uniform contour seams such as herein described,

the bladder and elements will contact equally throughout the entire cover andl will insure perfectly regular rebound, also especially when seam reinforcing means is provided, such as described in connection with Fig. 7, the seams become very strong and have substantially no tendency to stretch or distort, aiding materially to preserve the shape of the cover as well as the life of the inatable member.

Having thus described my improvement, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in my device'without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the exact form or construction shown.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an inflatable ball, a cover comprising a substantially iiush with both surface of said cover, and an air-tight member formed to fit within and iill said cover, in combination with exible, non-expansible and continuous means within the cover adapted to limit the expansi-y bility oi' said member. v

2. In aninatable ball, 'a cover comprising a plurality of sections, means connecting said sections at their margins, said connecting means being substantially smooth with the inner surface of said cover, and an air-tight member formed to iit within and ll said cover in combination with a exible, non-expansible element formed to fit within and conform tothe shape of said cover adapted to limit the expansibilty of said member and thereby the tension upon said cover and sai connecting means.

3. In an inflatable ball, a cover comprising a plurality of sections of suitable material, means connecting said sections at their margins, the

seams between said sections being formed by splitting the material near the margin, removing a strip at one side of said split, connecting the longer edges of the sections and turning the connected parts inward to co-operate with the remainder of the thickness of the section to form a seam substantially smooth and flush with the surface of said sections.

4. In an inatable ball, a cover comprising a plurality of sectins connected at theirmargins, a connecting seam between said sections formed by splitting the material at the margin removing a part at one side of said split, connecting the mainder of the thickness of the section to form a seam, in Acombination with a continuous nonexpansible element within the cover extending across said seams adapted to limit the tension upon the seams when in service.

5. In an inflatable ball, a cover comprising a plurality of sections` of suitable material, means connecting said sections at their margins, ,the connection between said sections being formed by splitting the material near the margin, removing a strip at one side of said split and securing the split parts together.

6.In an inflatable ball a exible cover comprising a plurality of connected sections in comi bination with an air-tight member formed to t within said cover and reinforcing means adapted to control the. form and size of said member comprising a plurality of strengthening elements arlonger edges of the sections and turning the ccnnected parts inward to co-operate with the reat their margins, and an air-tight member formed to iit within said cover, in combination with means comprising a plurality of strengthening elements arranged to form a hollow matrix of suitable form, inv combination with means connecting said elements adapted to hold the same in position, and an air-tight member within said matrix.

.8. In a resilient ball, a plurality of strengthening elements arranged to form a hollowmatrix of suitable form, in combination with means connecting said elements, adapted to hold the same in position and adapted to cooperate with said elements to form an air-tight space within the matrix.

9. In a resilient ball, a cover comprising a plurality of sections, seams connecting said sections at their margins, and an air-tight member within said cover, in combination with means extending across said seams and sections, adapted to limit the expansibility of said member, comprising a plurality of'strengthening elements arranged to form a hollow matrix of suitable form to enclose said member, in combination With vmeans, connecting said elements adapted to lhold the same in position.

11. In a resilient bal1, a cover comprising a `plurality oiA sections; and an air-tight member formed to fit within said cover in combination with means formed to t within said cover and enclose 'said member; said` means cooperating with the adjacent surfaces of said cover and said member, and permanently attached to each.

12. In a resilient ball, a cover comprising a plurality of sections and an airftight member formed to fit within said cover in combination Awith means positioned between said cover and said member, permanently attached to each and connecting the sections of said cover andsaid air-tight member;

mA I. TUBBs. 

